Exactly one month after our arrival in Germany, we concluded the last day of our pre-semester intensive language course. Not only had I scored exceptionally well on the official German-language exam for higher education entry, but I now also had a week-and-a-half break before the start of the official university semester to look forward to. The members of my program were encouraged to use this break as an opportunity to travel. I made plans to spend three days each in two different cities.
First, a friend and I set out for Budapest. Immediately upon arriving, we began our mission to see and experience as much of the city and culture as we could within a short amount of time. In addition to our own sightseeing, we participated in two guided walking tours, which taught us about the more than 1100 years of Hungarian history, ranging from the arrival of the first people who would become known as Hungarians to the many occupations (Mongols, Ottomans, Habsburgs, Germans, and communist Russia) and attempted rebellions that finally led to the independent country we know today.
Following my time in Budapest, I boarded a bus and met two other friends from the AJY program in Vienna, Austria. Together, we rode one of the world’s tallest swing rides, visited the former imperial residence of the Habsburg dynasty, and viewed exhibits in the art history museum. We signed up for another guided walking tour (which I would highly recommend; they all were excellent!), and I even got to hear a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in the St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
These travels were more than fun and were wonderful cultural experiences. It was an educational trip — in more than just one way. Other than history and culture, we had to learn pretty quickly how to navigate our way through unfamiliar, very large, very populated cities. I have most certainly bolstered my confidence in terms of using public transportation in the last month and a half.
A stumbling block I encountered during this trip was that I could not initially access the hostel I had booked in Vienna. Since my friends and I had been in different places before meeting in Vienna, I had booked separate accommodations and was alone when I attempted to check in. I had received a code for my individual room but had not realized I needed a separate code to enter the building itself, which they had forgotten to send me. Furthermore, there was no one present to let me in. Upon realizing I was locked out, I scanned through all of my prior emails, searching for the code or a phone number to contact, neither of which I could find. Soon, I started to become upset and a little panicked. I called my friends, who were able to reassure me. As it turns out, a mistake had been made with their booking at a different hotel too, but it was resolved, and there was enough space in their room for me to stay with them if it became necessary. However, shortly after ending the call with my friends, I was able to find the hostel’s phone number and was granted access to the building within only a couple of minutes. Everything ended up working out just fine, and I learned that it can be important to remain calm, even in highly stressful situations.
Another notable aspect of this trip was the opportunity it provided to witness and learn about Jewish history in Europe. I have entered and seen countless churches while traveling, admiring their beauty, architecture, and historical significance within each city. However, I do not often get to see structures important to non-Christian religions. Between Budapest and Vienna, I was able to see the second largest synagogue in the world, the remains of a medieval synagogue, and the oldest Jewish museum in Europe, which featured a display of items salvaged from synagogues destroyed during the Second World War. As a Jewish individual myself, these were truly meaningful places that I was delighted to be able to visit and learn about. I now carry new knowledge and experiences with me as I continue my program and begin the start of the official German university semester back in Heidelberg.
